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Iron Man (2020)
Iron Man, Vol. 3: Books of Korvac III - Cosmic Iron Man
Iron Man finds himself marooned in a small colony on a remote planet! Life here seems perfect…but who’s pulling the strings behind its delicate design? As Tony digs deeper for answers, a message from home warns him that Korvac is still a threat…but recovering from his many recent injuries means pain medication. Will Tony succumb to the temptation that has plagued him for years? Either way, Iron Man will soon face a cosmic showdown on the deck of Galactus’ worldship. And if he manages to survive unscathed, he must battle Korvac’s zealous and powerful disciples: the Controller, the Unicorn, Blizzard — and a robotically enslaved Original Human Torch! Tony sure could use some friends right about now…
COLLECTING: Iron Man (2020) 12-19
COLLECTING: Iron Man (2020) 12-19
184 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2022
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71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 26, 2022
I am helpless against this title right now. Normally, I despise Iron Man. He's more-or-less powerless, a wealthy alcoholic asshat, and during the original Civil War event he was written as the ultimate amalgamation of corporate CEO and military industrial complex.
But in this run of Iron Man, Cantwell showcases as many C- and D-list characters as possible, and I swoon in appreciation. He addresses what a rich, entitled prick Iron Man typically is, and shows him trying to do better. He addresses Iron Man's status as an addict head on. He writes Hellcat as a compassionate woman with a suicidal history, used to hold Tony in check and call him out on his bullshit.
I love it.
But in this run of Iron Man, Cantwell showcases as many C- and D-list characters as possible, and I swoon in appreciation. He addresses what a rich, entitled prick Iron Man typically is, and shows him trying to do better. He addresses Iron Man's status as an addict head on. He writes Hellcat as a compassionate woman with a suicidal history, used to hold Tony in check and call him out on his bullshit.
I love it.
July 21, 2022
I was a little mean about the last arc of this series, I'll be honest. It felt very Iron Man-less, like Cantwell wanted to tell a story but he was forced to use Iron Man to do it. That all changes with this volume, bringing the focus right back to Tony Stark and his struggles.
Cosmically empowered, Tony sets about solving all the world's problems in the most Tony Stark way possible. Cantwell weaves a clever story that puts Tony to the test in all the right ways, and even manages to use the supporting cast from the last volume to excellent effect while adding in the Silver Surfer and Doctor Doom without losing anything from anyone. Hellcat remains the unsung hero of the proceedings though, and she's been a welcome addition since volume one.
The final issue of this arc is especially well done, stripping away everything that has made Tony what he is up to this point and forcing him to take on Korvac one last time. He'd become a bit of an afterthought, but he returns with a vengeance in what's possibly the best issue of this run so far.
On art are CAFU and Angel Unzueta once again, so the book remains as lovely to look at as before. If anything, Unzueta is really doing the heavy lifting at this point, but that's hardly a bad thing.
A return to form and then some, Books Of Korvac comes to a roaring conclusion that goes to show that ultimate power doesn't always solve the ultimate problem of how to be a good person.
Cosmically empowered, Tony sets about solving all the world's problems in the most Tony Stark way possible. Cantwell weaves a clever story that puts Tony to the test in all the right ways, and even manages to use the supporting cast from the last volume to excellent effect while adding in the Silver Surfer and Doctor Doom without losing anything from anyone. Hellcat remains the unsung hero of the proceedings though, and she's been a welcome addition since volume one.
The final issue of this arc is especially well done, stripping away everything that has made Tony what he is up to this point and forcing him to take on Korvac one last time. He'd become a bit of an afterthought, but he returns with a vengeance in what's possibly the best issue of this run so far.
On art are CAFU and Angel Unzueta once again, so the book remains as lovely to look at as before. If anything, Unzueta is really doing the heavy lifting at this point, but that's hardly a bad thing.
A return to form and then some, Books Of Korvac comes to a roaring conclusion that goes to show that ultimate power doesn't always solve the ultimate problem of how to be a good person.
March 11, 2023
My, my, after a somewhat disappointing 2nd volume Cantwell more than made up for it here.
I won’t pretend the plot is extremely original: Stark's hubris after getting the Power Cosmic leads to his downfall then his redemption. But Cantwell managed to make it interesting throughout the whole eight issues, treading on known themes but with talent.
Stark’s behavior remains on a humane level with his high hopes and even higher flaws. Korvac’s a bit subdued in comparison but not to be dismissed.
But the unsung star of the book is a character I wouldn’t have bet a dollar on. Patsy Walker, a C-list nobody in bright yellow as far as I was concerned so far, is very well written and has probably the most interesting role. Not particularly as Hellcat but simply as herself. A friend.
If only for that I’d already say "bravo" M. Cantwell but since the whole story is good I’ll go for a double kudos.
Many different artists on the book, something I tend to particularly dislike but the overall look don’t suffer much from it.
I won’t pretend the plot is extremely original: Stark's hubris after getting the Power Cosmic leads to his downfall then his redemption. But Cantwell managed to make it interesting throughout the whole eight issues, treading on known themes but with talent.
Stark’s behavior remains on a humane level with his high hopes and even higher flaws. Korvac’s a bit subdued in comparison but not to be dismissed.
But the unsung star of the book is a character I wouldn’t have bet a dollar on. Patsy Walker, a C-list nobody in bright yellow as far as I was concerned so far, is very well written and has probably the most interesting role. Not particularly as Hellcat but simply as herself. A friend.
If only for that I’d already say "bravo" M. Cantwell but since the whole story is good I’ll go for a double kudos.
Many different artists on the book, something I tend to particularly dislike but the overall look don’t suffer much from it.
December 29, 2021
This was actually pretty good!
Tony is on some other planet and he teams with a guy named Colin to find the secrets of this planet they are trapped on but when we learn of Stilt-man's role in it, it becomes a great single issue story and they get their mission to travel to TAA 2 and stop Korvac from getting the power cosmic.
I love the whole sequence of events from how Tony teams up with his team of Misty and Hellcat and then they battle with Korvac's team comprising of D-level villains like Unicorn, Blizzard and all and well it happens but what happens when both get the power?
And thats when the whole series gets better with the birth of Iron God and Korvac and they fight until the cosmic entities interfere but it changes everything. The power cosmic angle they did with Thor too and yeah similar ideas but the execution is amazing though I wished the fight lasted longer or it might in future volumes.
But regardless a good read and makes for a solid continuation to the big Korvac storyline and it will be interesting to explore what Tony does with these powers and what his friends think of it. Good issue and great art again. I recommend it.
Tony is on some other planet and he teams with a guy named Colin to find the secrets of this planet they are trapped on but when we learn of Stilt-man's role in it, it becomes a great single issue story and they get their mission to travel to TAA 2 and stop Korvac from getting the power cosmic.
I love the whole sequence of events from how Tony teams up with his team of Misty and Hellcat and then they battle with Korvac's team comprising of D-level villains like Unicorn, Blizzard and all and well it happens but what happens when both get the power?
And thats when the whole series gets better with the birth of Iron God and Korvac and they fight until the cosmic entities interfere but it changes everything. The power cosmic angle they did with Thor too and yeah similar ideas but the execution is amazing though I wished the fight lasted longer or it might in future volumes.
But regardless a good read and makes for a solid continuation to the big Korvac storyline and it will be interesting to explore what Tony does with these powers and what his friends think of it. Good issue and great art again. I recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2022
Cantwell's Korvacian Iron Man continues to be kind of meh other than the central Tony & Patsy relationship. Here we get big battles with Korvac and then an abrupt turn to Tony as God ... and then weirdly, more battles with Korvac. Though there's some interesting stuff in here, the core concept has definitely outstayed its welcome.
June 1, 2023
I really wasn't feeling this until the last two issues. The artwork is impressive.
September 1, 2022
The Iron God arc was unexpected, but really good.
November 4, 2022
As I predicted with the previous volume, Cosmic Iron Man is basically a big, bonkers showdown. Tony and Korvac tangle on Galactus's worldship and (no surprise if you read this volume's title) both receive the power cosmic. Which, y'know, leads to tangling on a galactic scale. It's kind of a hoot, kind of a headtrip.
Cosmic Iron Man is a big, eight-issue volume, though, and the Iron Man/Korvac battle only takes up the first half. The back half features Tony coming to terms with his new powers, followed by his coming to terms with why he wants to use his new powers in the way he wants to use them. This is very much a book in which our hero is built up and then brought back down. Alongside the big battles are big emotions - and some very powerful moments.
Christopher Cantwell's take on Iron Man hasn't always featured crisp, clear plotting or characters I adore, but here at the end, I can safely say that it's required reading for Iron Man fans. Or Marvel fans in general. This a very good, very weird series.
Cosmic Iron Man is a big, eight-issue volume, though, and the Iron Man/Korvac battle only takes up the first half. The back half features Tony coming to terms with his new powers, followed by his coming to terms with why he wants to use his new powers in the way he wants to use them. This is very much a book in which our hero is built up and then brought back down. Alongside the big battles are big emotions - and some very powerful moments.
Christopher Cantwell's take on Iron Man hasn't always featured crisp, clear plotting or characters I adore, but here at the end, I can safely say that it's required reading for Iron Man fans. Or Marvel fans in general. This a very good, very weird series.
August 30, 2022
For the most part, I've liked this run. Cantwell wanted to strip Tony down to his new core (which I felt he needed after Bendis did his thing) and this basically feels like the finale for it. Taking him into space seemed necessary to remove all of the extraneous things on Earth that could get in the way and while I didn't like the temporary cosmic device used to push Tony to his limit, I can see that it was merely a tool and the result of a new Tony was worth it. The art changes up a bit toward the end, but it maintains a relatively "simple" look that fits well with the story. It's a new beginning, and I'm curious where Cantwell will take him.
August 26, 2022
So, he's a more altruistic version of Superior Iron Man now?
This final battle with Korvac takes place on the remains of Galactus' ship. Tony is basically held together with chewing gum and a prayer at this point. For those saying that this run has made Tony more accessible and human...just...what are you reading?
*edited MONTHS later*
Can you handle this being a 'one off'? He's fallen off the wagon, and nobody else has picked up on that as a character arc since the original, 'Demon In A Bottle' storyline. Addiction isn't something you can fight and win accolades from. Codependency isn't a villain that rears back once and you vanquish it. These adult themes should be a constant reminder for this character. Handling it is going to be rough.....forever. Retcon this away at your own peril.
Tony's brush with cosmic powers is more of the same. He's more concerned with how awesome he will make things and not how it will affect them. Avoidance is still avoidance. It's time for a helping hand. Can he see that he can never do this alone? Will his friends have any chance of making a difference.
Ugh. This is going to end badly.
Bonus: Cosmic power corrupts....
Bonus bonus: How much power can a Latverian monarch hold?
This final battle with Korvac takes place on the remains of Galactus' ship. Tony is basically held together with chewing gum and a prayer at this point. For those saying that this run has made Tony more accessible and human...just...what are you reading?
*edited MONTHS later*
Can you handle this being a 'one off'? He's fallen off the wagon, and nobody else has picked up on that as a character arc since the original, 'Demon In A Bottle' storyline. Addiction isn't something you can fight and win accolades from. Codependency isn't a villain that rears back once and you vanquish it. These adult themes should be a constant reminder for this character. Handling it is going to be rough.....forever. Retcon this away at your own peril.
Tony's brush with cosmic powers is more of the same. He's more concerned with how awesome he will make things and not how it will affect them. Avoidance is still avoidance. It's time for a helping hand. Can he see that he can never do this alone? Will his friends have any chance of making a difference.
Ugh. This is going to end badly.
Bonus: Cosmic power corrupts....
Bonus bonus: How much power can a Latverian monarch hold?
July 27, 2022
I’d give this zero stars if I could. The problem with Marvel lately and Iron Man’s sudden popularity post the MCU, more and more the 616 continuity seems hell bent on dismantling Tony Stark’s character sketch in 616 and bastardising him into a more MCU version, which sucks because they really aren’t in any way similar beyond the broad sketches. The best I can assume is that Cantwell’s really not done his homework with Stark or read any of his old comics. It’s getting exhausting at this point and I’m really not sure why marvel can’t get a writer who actually likes iron man to write iron man.
April 10, 2023
The further I get in to this series the more I enjoy. Mostly because it starts indulging in my favorite side of Marvel: COSMIC BULLSHIT (affectionate). Space adventures, godlike beings, the shebang. It's great. It's not groundbreaking, but I'm an absolute sucker for it.
On the personal side of things, it feels like Cantwell is finally succeeding at what he intended to do at the start: deconstruct Tony and push him into more emotionally fraught places. It just took getting him out of the city and giving him the Phenomenal Cosmic Powers to do it. Funny how sci-fi works like that, huh. My favorite Iron Man has always been Borderline Supervillain Iron Man. Not necessarily evil, but driven and selfish even when doing good. The Power Cosmic brings these traits to the forefront, and takes them to their logical and terrifying conclusion.
This goes hand in hand with his descent back into addiction, to morphine this time rather than alcohol. It's could have felt like a character reset, a nostalgic writer snapping Tony back to how we was in their memory, but it's done much more thoughtfully here. It feels like a proper in-character relapse, as happens with many real life addicts. Tony even recognizes it as such and checks himself into rehab. It's just very well done.
Again, this is nothing groundbreaking, but it's solidly made on all fronts, and continues to improve with each volume. I'm genuinely sad there's only one more. If it keeps up this trajectory, it could be truly great.
On the personal side of things, it feels like Cantwell is finally succeeding at what he intended to do at the start: deconstruct Tony and push him into more emotionally fraught places. It just took getting him out of the city and giving him the Phenomenal Cosmic Powers to do it. Funny how sci-fi works like that, huh. My favorite Iron Man has always been Borderline Supervillain Iron Man. Not necessarily evil, but driven and selfish even when doing good. The Power Cosmic brings these traits to the forefront, and takes them to their logical and terrifying conclusion.
This goes hand in hand with his descent back into addiction, to morphine this time rather than alcohol. It's could have felt like a character reset, a nostalgic writer snapping Tony back to how we was in their memory, but it's done much more thoughtfully here. It feels like a proper in-character relapse, as happens with many real life addicts. Tony even recognizes it as such and checks himself into rehab. It's just very well done.
Again, this is nothing groundbreaking, but it's solidly made on all fronts, and continues to improve with each volume. I'm genuinely sad there's only one more. If it keeps up this trajectory, it could be truly great.
August 25, 2022
3.5 Stars.
Simply by looking at the title you should be able to tell that the "Cosmic Iron Man" part will be more important then the "Korvac" part, despite this being the third book to work through the story of Tony's encounter with Korvac. This one feels more grounded then the ones before and I can definitely see Iron Man heading back to more familiar ground.
Brief Synopsis:
Tony and friends land on Taa II before Korvac can take "the power of Galactus", which turns out to be cosmic powers. Unable to defeat Korvac, Tony takes the Power Cosmic for himself and not only defeats Korvac, but leaves him to the judgment of the Living Tribunal and other galactic superforces. Now having limitless power, Tony's ego gets the better of him and he begins using his new powers to change the world "for the better". Of course he makes it worse and it takes adding Doctor Doom and Silver Surfer to the crew to get him to give up his powers. Tony collapses from morphine withdrawal and is taken to the hospital by a human version of Korvac. He ends the Volume heading into rehab, which he's needed for a long time.
I do like the pull back here, but with "Korvac IV" coming soon, I know this story is going to take a turn, hopefully for the better. Recommend, though obviously not if you haven't read previous Volumes of Iron Man.
Simply by looking at the title you should be able to tell that the "Cosmic Iron Man" part will be more important then the "Korvac" part, despite this being the third book to work through the story of Tony's encounter with Korvac. This one feels more grounded then the ones before and I can definitely see Iron Man heading back to more familiar ground.
Brief Synopsis:
Tony and friends land on Taa II before Korvac can take "the power of Galactus", which turns out to be cosmic powers. Unable to defeat Korvac, Tony takes the Power Cosmic for himself and not only defeats Korvac, but leaves him to the judgment of the Living Tribunal and other galactic superforces. Now having limitless power, Tony's ego gets the better of him and he begins using his new powers to change the world "for the better". Of course he makes it worse and it takes adding Doctor Doom and Silver Surfer to the crew to get him to give up his powers. Tony collapses from morphine withdrawal and is taken to the hospital by a human version of Korvac. He ends the Volume heading into rehab, which he's needed for a long time.
I do like the pull back here, but with "Korvac IV" coming soon, I know this story is going to take a turn, hopefully for the better. Recommend, though obviously not if you haven't read previous Volumes of Iron Man.
June 27, 2023
Este cómic es BUENÍSIMO????
Hace unos meses no hubiera dado un duro por esta etapa después de las críticas que llegué a ver, pero este macro arco con Korvak me ha encantado. La conclusión es puro The Leftovers, y el desarrollo para llegar hasta ella me ha gustado muchísimo. El poder corrompe, y el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente, entonces ¿qué pasa cuando ese poder lo ostenta alguien con genuinas buenas intenciones pero que siempre se ve incapaz de superar sus traumas y las peores partes de sí mismo? La comparación que hace Cantwell con el Doctor Jekyll y Mr. Hyde me parece fascinante, y esa última conversación es para enmarcarla. Derrotando a un villano no a través de puñetazos, lásers y demás, si no a través de comprenderlo y decirle que puede ser mejor.
Arco sencillamente espectacular éste, y aunque ciertas cosas de Korvak me resultan confusas me ha flipado lo que ha hecho Cantwell con él. A ver qué tal el final de su etapa, porque esto no ha parado de mejorar, alcanzando unas cotas de instrospección que ya quisieran muchos.
Hace unos meses no hubiera dado un duro por esta etapa después de las críticas que llegué a ver, pero este macro arco con Korvak me ha encantado. La conclusión es puro The Leftovers, y el desarrollo para llegar hasta ella me ha gustado muchísimo. El poder corrompe, y el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente, entonces ¿qué pasa cuando ese poder lo ostenta alguien con genuinas buenas intenciones pero que siempre se ve incapaz de superar sus traumas y las peores partes de sí mismo? La comparación que hace Cantwell con el Doctor Jekyll y Mr. Hyde me parece fascinante, y esa última conversación es para enmarcarla. Derrotando a un villano no a través de puñetazos, lásers y demás, si no a través de comprenderlo y decirle que puede ser mejor.
Arco sencillamente espectacular éste, y aunque ciertas cosas de Korvak me resultan confusas me ha flipado lo que ha hecho Cantwell con él. A ver qué tal el final de su etapa, porque esto no ha parado de mejorar, alcanzando unas cotas de instrospección que ya quisieran muchos.
November 22, 2022
Probably the weakest of Cantwell's run so far. The stranded planet a diversion that feels like it existed mostly to pad out the run (although it is certainly thematically resonant!)
The final moments of the Book of Korvac, however, are a powerful emotional payoff to this deceptively deep and introspective look at Tony Stark that uses the full tapestry of the Marvel Universe as allegory for Tony's demons.
The final moments of the Book of Korvac, however, are a powerful emotional payoff to this deceptively deep and introspective look at Tony Stark that uses the full tapestry of the Marvel Universe as allegory for Tony's demons.
July 10, 2023
This is the one that made me pick up the first 3 issues. My library also had the next issue, and I'm excited to read it.
This one had a lot of good payoff and good art. Hellcat was less invasive this issue. Frogman grew on me. Ironman learned a lesson and thats annoying. What if he qas just iron god forever.
This one had a lot of good payoff and good art. Hellcat was less invasive this issue. Frogman grew on me. Ironman learned a lesson and thats annoying. What if he qas just iron god forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2022
Iron Man/Tony Stark really is the worst. Whatever good will the first and second volumes may have built for him with me in general were wiped away by this volume, which really lays into who he is and always will be.
September 22, 2022
Collects Iron Man (2020) issues #12-19
I've still been enjoying this run by Cantwell, but this collection got just a little bit gradually worse as it went on. The less Scarlet Spider appeared in this series, the less I liked it.
I've still been enjoying this run by Cantwell, but this collection got just a little bit gradually worse as it went on. The less Scarlet Spider appeared in this series, the less I liked it.
November 29, 2023
I liked the idea of Tony having to deal with godlike powers and what that did when everyone got the same gift of being smart. What would happen if God gave us all we asked for? Craziness. Anyway the art in this was great
May 5, 2022
Si bien me gustó el final de este arco, no creo que siga leyendo con Cantwell a cargo.
May 10, 2022
Speechless
Read
July 29, 2022This was pretty great. I spent the last two volumes mostly just not knowing who Korvac is but everything paid of real nicely here. Well done.
August 10, 2022
3.5 Stars
September 19, 2022
4.25
Sometimes how to see where things are going. But a lot of surprises and really interesting character growth.
Sometimes how to see where things are going. But a lot of surprises and really interesting character growth.
October 25, 2022
Jim Starlin meets Iron Man on a foundation of Tony Stark personality development running back to the 60s.
January 19, 2023
Iron man with the cosmic power and gets corrupted. Starts to look like Ultron. Nice artwork.
November 13, 2023
It's taken another slight dive from volume 2. Probably my favourite Iron Man run I've read so far.
The supporting cast is a nice addition.
The supporting cast is a nice addition.
December 31, 2023
Now I know for sure this is a frustratingly poor faith read on the character
April 16, 2024
Really good story, although revolving list of artists can be a bit jarring.
May 29, 2025
Ending a little topsy-turvy but other than that a solid comic. In my opinion it does not deserve the hate it receives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews